10: Chapter 10: Return Rate 124? Remote Zhou Xuan!

Military households... they are the descendants of Dao soldiers.

They could also be the descendants of frontier troops or garrison troops.

Generally, they are young men who possess some military skills...

People like these shouldn't have ended up at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

If they just went to enlist in the army, they would at least be able to get a full meal.

Not only that, if they achieved military merit, promotion and ennoblement would not be impossible!

Although the path of officialdom is monopolized by the Family.

Joining the army to kill the enemy still offers an unobstructed path to the middle ranks.

So... why appear at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?

There must be some secret?

The manager said quietly, "Lord Shen, please don't overthink it... In fact, we at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce are also quite troubled by this batch of military households!"

"Troubled?"

"These military households... they offended the powerful."

"They mutinied and attacked the camp... and were subsequently stripped of their military household status by the imperial court."

"They were reduced to commoners."

"In this world... you know how severe the consequences of mutiny and attacking a camp are."

"No one is willing to take in a military household member who harbors rebellion."

Shen Yi made a prompt decision.

"Let's go take a look..."

In the military household camp, the atmosphere was even more oppressive.

Their hands and feet were bound.

On their foreheads, faces, and even their chests and backs, slave marks had been branded!

The middle-aged manager carried a lantern, and pairs of eyes like those of wild beasts looked over.

"Some beasts are born to eat vegetarian food... but once they have tasted meat, they will never forget it."

"They become restless."

"And the vast majority of bandits are just like that, unable to suppress their desires, forming gangs and causing chaos!"

"My Lord, just take a look... or use them as cannon fodder."

"As for using them... it is better not to use them for important tasks."

"Otherwise, my Lord, you could purchase some slave control seals, but they are quite expensive, and using them on these people would obviously be a waste."

Shen Yi looked along the way, and it was just as the manager said.

The return rates of these people varied... and were terrifyingly low!

"My Lord."

Just at this moment... a figure suddenly darted out from the Dao lineage.

The manager frowned, and a black light appeared in his hand, a black whip lashing through the air... ready to strike at that figure.

Just then... Shen Yi reached out and held the manager down.

"Lord Shen?"

"Manager, don't be hasty... Let's see what this person has to say."

This suddenly appearing figure was thin, and his physique could not be considered strong.

Yet, the return rate was clearly marked as [124%].

This figure had a haggard face, yet it could not hide a sense of heroism.

A flash of sharpness crossed his eyes... his bones looked very hard!

When that person saw Shen Yi... he slammed his head against the ground.

"My Lord... I am Zhou Xian."

"I beg you, my Lord, to give me a way to survive... and save my sister from fire and water."

"I am willing to climb mountains of blades and descend into seas of fire for you... I ask not for a single cent of salary, just enough food and clothing will do!"

"I am skilled in archery, can draw a ten-stone bow, and have mastered the three-arrow technique..."

"Is that true?"

The manager saw this, checked the silk book, and nodded.

"It is true."

"How much to sell him for?"

"Military household... fifty copper coins each."

"Five coins."

"My Lord... are you robbing me?"

"Forty at the lowest."

"Ten coins."

"Lord Shen, there's no room for negotiation... Why don't you look around some more?"

"Look at what you're saying, aren't I giving you business?"

"Who gives business like this?"

"Thirty."

"Twenty... and his sister as a free gift."

"Fine, fine, fine... I'm really afraid of you."

"Do you want any other military households?"

"No..."

"Pick out twenty young men for me."

"One copper coin for a young man, three for one with strong bones."

"100 copper coins to buy thirty young men... and also..."

"Also what?"

"Bring their families along..."

"Hiss... My Lord, are you really a top scholar? How can you be so calculating?"

"What about weapons? Do you want them?"

"Naturally, I do."

"But buying them directly isn't cost-effective... Lord Shen, I also have craftsmen here."

"How come you have everything here?"

"This is the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce... we are wealthy across the four seas. Even if you wanted a mermaid, I could find one for you."

"Craftsmen are a bit more expensive... fifty copper coins."

"One hundred for three."

"Deal..."

"Damn... I bid too high."

"Now that you have a blacksmith, isn't it a problem if you don't have a smithy? Lord Shen... I have blast furnaces here, and Earth Fire. This Earth Fire is extraordinary; the weapons quenched in it are thirty percent sharper and tougher..."

"How much?"

"Five hundred copper coins..."

"And include a smithy building."

"I'm poor..."

"I heard that you bought a city wall for 5000? Equipped with a giant crossbow?"

"How about this... I'll include a 'Heavy Crossbow Bolt' researched by the Ministry of Works, capable of killing a second-grade Yao Beast."

"Deal..."

"..."

"Lord Shen... using Earth Fire requires Spiritual Qi."

"I know that you are short on funds, Lord Shen. I have acquaintances in the Ministry of Works, and they have annual quotas for sending staff to the countryside... You have spent a huge amount today, so shall I give you this favor?"

"Although the Spiritual Qi in the Sanchuan Sand Sea is scarce, it is still no problem to use a Spiritual Qi formation to power the Earth Fire."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it... Now that you have everything, Lord Shen, haven't you forgotten that you are still missing Ore?"

"The reputation of this Ore is quite significant. The Ore in the Sanchuan Sand Sea is fragile in texture and not rich in Spiritual Qi... The best is from the Northern Frontier and the Southern Frontier."

"It can be forged into ten-forged weapons..."

"How much?"

"One hundred copper coins for a thousand jin."

"So expensive?"

"It's a ten-forged weapon! If you can mass-produce them, Lord Shen, one thousand jin can produce ten units, and one unit can sell for tens of copper coins."

"That makes a lot of sense..."

"How much do you want, Lord Shen?"

"Three thousand jin..."

"Congratulations, Lord Shen, I'm afraid you will return with a full load this time!"

"Lord Shen, you bought craftsmen, a smithy, and Ore at my Four Seas Chamber of Commerce... but you are still missing one thing."

Shen Yi was already dumbfounded.

"What?"

"Of course, it's the forging blueprints!"

The manager said with a straight face.

"The blueprints mastered by each Family are different, and the toughness and sharpness of the weapons and armor are also different. Some are very light to wear, while others are heavy... Some can even trigger Spiritual Qi formations inside!"

"I have a damaged first-grade armor design blueprint here, called the iron blood armor."

"How much?"

"Hmm... for first-grade armor, the price is about the same as the Earth Fire. But since it's damaged, I'll charge you 250 coins... You are a big customer today, my Lord."

"Let's just make it 200."

"Fine..."

"Oh, right, my Lord..."

"Shut up! I have no more money!"

The middle-aged manager then coughed.

"No... I just wanted to say, it's noon, aren't you hungry, my Lord?"

"I'll be the host and invite you to have a meal at Tianxiangju Restaurant."

"But since you are not willing..."

"Wait?"

"Who said I'm not willing?"

"I'm very willing!"